United Colleges - Vox Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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vox 29 Immigration—A National Problem By Burton T. Richardson None of the national problems confronting Canada today are more important than the immigra¬ tion question. The number, qual¬ ity and condition of the popula¬ tion of the future has a vital sig¬ nificance for every Canadian prob¬ lem of major importance. There¬ fore, the question of our present immigration policy should be a prime consideration to every Cana¬ dian citizen. Our national policy in this matter should be recognized as one of the chief factors to be con¬ sidered relative to the question as to who we, as a Canadian race, will be in the future. Present Racial Composition Let us first answer the question of who we as Canadians are now, then let us consider what sort of a national stock we should wish to evolve for the future. It will in¬ clude some survey of some of Canada ' s needs in the matter of population, and then, and then only, shall be have reached an ade¬ quate basis on which to form an opinion of what Canada’s immi¬ gration policy should be. In the first place, the two pre¬ dominant racial stocks in Canada have always been, and still are, British and French. The last Do¬ minion census (1921) showed that these two stocks constitute about eighty-three percent, of the total population and that the remaining seventeen percent, are divided among thirty or more races. The question which naturally arises at this point is. How does the pres¬ ent policy of Canada in this mat¬ ter act to preserve this dominant strain? A brief glance at the latest available statistics on immigration shows that for the first eight months of the fiscal year of 1928 British and U.S. immigrants (the latter being largely of British an¬ cestry) constituted about fifty- three percent, of the total. Added to this we have the assurance of Mr. Forke, speaking in Brandon a few weeks ago, that his policy for the coming year will be that of closer adherence to the principle of British preference. Therefore, as far as the immediate considerations of the problem are concerned, if we consider that the present mix¬ ture of population is satisfactory, it is being maintained by the present policy. Desirable Immigrants Let us then consider the quali¬ ties and characteristics of the type of immigrant which we consider desirable and satisfactory for Can¬ ada. What must he be, what must he possess in order to conform to our standard as an eligible new¬ comer to our country? The first obvious consideration is that he must conform to a high physical and mental standard. This is the first criterion which should oper¬ ate in our immigration policy, for no one will deny that our citizens of tomorrow require strong phy¬ siques and firm mentalities. Other criteria which, I believe, should op¬ erate in this matter, and which are not mentioned very often in an im¬ migration discussion, are those which may be termed moral, social, industrial, political, even aesthetic. These aspects of the question, if considered, will take account of ele¬ ments of our national life which are perhaps better controlled by an guide in the matter of selection and

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28 VOX In dance halls crowd the hot young men Who long to fill their arms with hen; While sheiks in Fords will sigh full sore, And neck, and park, and neck some more. In art the girl is on the throne: We sculp her bust in brass and stone; We paint her face to feed our flame— She paints it first, we’re not to blame. And so at last I end my verse. I trust you grant long words are worse; For I’m quite sure the short are best For Chink in East and us in West. More than one sound is much too much: Sesquipedalia and such Seem desuetudinous to me In polysyllabicity. We are pleased to note that there is more advertising matter in this issue of Vox than in any issue dur¬ ing some years past. It seems to be an indication of Western pros¬ perity, of the keen business policy of our local houses, and of their confidence in the quality of the goods and services they offer. It is for Vox readers to give them a trial. Support your adver¬ tisers. See how they support you! The Exchange Editor acknowl¬ edges with thanks the following exchanges: The Gateway, The Ubyssey, The Brandon College Quill, The Trinity University Re¬ view, The Managra-. Commenting on the Manitoba debating team, the Ubyssey makes the following comprehensive re¬ port: “At this point in the pro¬ gram, Mr. Paul Murphy introduced the debating team from Manitoba. Both of its members, Mr. Richard¬ son and Mr. Saunderson, gave sam¬ ples of Manitoba wit”! Statisticians state that Canada’s national wealth is $2,525 per per¬ son. We would like to know when we can collect our share. “I never felt so put out in my life,” said the student as he read the letter from the Dean. iHikado SUPPER DANCE PARTIES

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30 VOX preference of immigrants. Before intelligent preference exercised through orders-in-council rather than a rigid legislative enactment. Our present government policy rec¬ ognizes, of course, the rigid exclu¬ sion of moral degenerates, lunatics, convicted criminals, and the like. Canada’s Needs The needs of Canada in the mat¬ ter of immigration can only be suggested here by a brief considera¬ tion of fundamental economic prin¬ ciples. Canada is in the process of industrial development. What fac¬ tors, then, we may ask, are neces¬ sary for progress in a country in this process of development? hirst of ail, great natural resources are needed, and there is no doubt about Nature’s bounty in Canada. Then there is the matter of capital. In passing, we should recognize that there are restrictions and limitations to the flow of capital to our devel¬ oping industries. But, if the op¬ portunity is here, the money mar¬ kets of the world will pour the vitalizing flow of capital into our country, just as surely as water will flow downhill. Finally, what about the Labor element in our industrial life? Labor, just like capital, when considered as an economic factor, is governed by economic laws, and if available in the world at all, it will be supplied to our industrial needs. This does not in the least suppose that we must take all and everyone who comes along, for we shall always retain the right to ex¬ clude “undesirable s,” I hope, and through proper selection, and by the exercise of an intelligent pref¬ erence, we shall admit those immi¬ grants which we deem “desirable.” Principles of Preference In conclusion, then let us con¬ sider what principles operate. The Open Door policy is untenable for many reasons, some of which will undoubtedly suggest themselves to the reader at once. Nor would a general and absolute prohibition of immigration find many supporters among those who have intelligent¬ ly considered the needs of our coun¬ try. A quota system, after the style of the United States, might be proposed. Yet, on reflection, the vital factors of the problem will be seen to be beyond the scope of a policy based on mere numbers and percentages. Thus finally the principle of Preference based on sound standards offers an acceptable policy. In general terms we prefer peo¬ ple like ourselves, for there is a great underlying fear in the public mind against mingling racial stocks which cannot be assimilated into our national life, and the fear is quite justified. The more indissol¬ uble the ingredients of the national melange are, the more acute are the resultant national problems, such as, congestion in the foreign quar¬ ters of our large cities, disruption of industry, political unrest, and so¬ cial upheaval. These are real dan¬ gers which lurk near at hand for us, and as such cannot be ignored. Also, like rational and intelligent citizens, we should recognize the vital needs of Canada in the matter of immigration. The logical course of action for us to pursue, then, is to exercise our preference so that the needs may be met, and all avoidable dangers may be avoided. The ultimate criterion by which the immigrant should be measured is that he should be a potential citi¬ zen for Canada, one who will fit into our national life, serve our na¬ tional ideals, and help us achieve our national destiny.